Knockdown bottle display stand



y 1960 w. L. HIGGIN 2,935,205

KNOCKDOWN BOTTLE DISPLAY STAND Filed Jan. 15 1959 INVENTOR.

flrra/avfyso 2,935,205 KNUCKDQWN BOTTLE DISPLAY STAND Wilfrid L. Higgin,Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Nehi Beverage Company of Los Angeles, LosAngeles, Calif., a partnership Application January 15, 1959, Serial No.786,991

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) The present invention relates to a knockdowndisplay stand for bottles whereby a plurality of layers of individualbottles and other containers may be safely stacked one on top of anotherwithout any fear of the bottles falling over, and from which display apurchaser may readily remove any desired number of such containers.

It is very common in most grocery or food stores to stack individualbottles and cans or cartoned bottles and cans one on top of another toprovide an attractive, readily accessible display from which manycustomers may conveniently serve themselves. These bottles or cansgenerally contain beverages, fruit juices, cleaning liquids, vegetables,fruits, salad dressings and other food products. Shelving is bulky,expensive and not efiicient since spacing between shelves is fixed. In astack, the upper bottles or cans must rest on the spaced tops of thelower bottles and cans and therefore the stack is unstable. Separatorshave to be used between layers of bottles to provide a stable stack.

f Heretofore, these separators have generally been of the substantiallypermanent or throw-away type. The permanent separators includedswingable racks and rigid gondolas or cases which were expensive,generally were required to be set up adjacent a wall, did not havevertically adjustable separators for receiving varying size bottles, andwere not capable of being quickly disassembled and set up in anotherlocation. The throw-away separators consisted of pieces of cardboardwhich were simply thrown on the floor by the average shopper when theupper layers of bottles were removed. This practice not only litteredthe store with objectionable debris, but presented a dangerous conditionfor shoppers either walking or pushing grocery carts.

The present invention distinguishes from the known bottle separators byproviding a knockdown bottle display stand which can be quickly andeasily disassembled and set up against a wall, in a corner or in themiddle of a door as a center display. The present display stand includesa plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending, pliant,load-distributing separators for layers of bottles which are slidablyand adjustably carried on vertical supports. The pliant separators allowthe load of an upper layer of bottles to be equally distributed on thetops of a lower layer of bottles to provide a stable stack of bottles.Also, the separators can be adjusted to various heights for carryingdifferent size bottles and there is no chance of any debris accumulatingon the floor of the grocery store when an upper layer of hottles isremoved. In addition, due to the slidable and adjustable separators, thebottles can be conveniently placed on the stand by initially moving allof the separators toward the top of the stand and lowering each one onthe tops of a layer of bottles as the bottles are placed on the nextlower separator.

, An object of the present invention is the provision of display standfor bottles, cans or the like to be stacked in a stable and safecondition.

Another object is to provide a bottle display stand of nited StatesPatent ice the knockdown type which can be easily and quicklydisassembled and set up in another location of the store, either againsta wall or in the center of the floor.

A further object of the invention isto provide a bottle display standwhich can be easily adjusted for carrying bottles or the like ofdifierent sizes.

Still another object is to provide a knockdown bottle display stand thatis not dangerous to shoppers as the bottles are removed from the stand.

A further object is the provision of knockdown bottle display standcapable of accomplishing all of the above objects which is extremelyinexpensive to make and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparentfrom the following description of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a knockdown bottle display standillustrative of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the device taken along plane II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a section of the device taken along the plane HIIII of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical support adapted tobe used with the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary knockdown display stand 10 for a large numberof bottles which is illustrative of the present invention and includes aplurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced separators 11slidably mounted on vertical poles 12. In the example shown in Fig. 1,there are a pair of front vertical poles and a pair of rear verticalpoles, the rear poles being of greater height than the front poles withmeans 13 interconnecting the upper ends of said rear poles. The means 13preferably is a sheet of material bearing advertising indicia.

Each of the bottle separators 11 is preferably made of lightweight,thin, pliant, load-distributing sheet material which is inexpensive toprovide but will allow the load of an upper layer of bottles to beequally distributed to the tops of the lower layer of bottles to providea stable stack. The separators 11 can be made of sheets of plastic,cardboard or various fibrous compositions, and may be provided with aknurled or rough upper surface to provide a better gripping surface forengagement with the bottles.

Each of the pliant, load-distributing separators 11 may be operativelyassociated with vertically adjustable means for supporting eachseparator in a horizontal plane spaced a distance substantially equal tothe height of the bottles to be displayed. As best seen in Fig. 2, onevertically adjustable means may be a rubber band 14 carried on each ofthe poles 12 beneath each of tthe bottle separators 11. The bottleseparators 11 are provided with for ward and rear openings 15 forslidably receiving the forward and rearward poles 12. The openings 15are of substantially the same diameter as the poles 12 in order to allowthe separators to be slidably received on the poles but still allow therubber bands 14 to support the separators in predetermined horizontalplanes.

Means may be provided for supporting the poles 12 in a substantiallyvertical position and for rigidly supporting the lowermost bottleseparator 11. It has been found that an inexpensive and convenient meansfor supporting the poles may be a plurality of open-top cartons 16 ofbottled goods. The cartons are arranged in adjacent relation andrectangular plan upon any convenient base. Each of the cartons 16 isprovided with vertical dividers 17 providing a plurality of compartments18 for the bottled goods. The compartments 18 constituting the extremecorners of the rectangular plan are unfilled and the lower ends of thevertical poles 12 are positioned in the:v unfilled compartments 18 andsupported by the partments by any suitable means such as gluing,stapling,

taping or tacking and is provided with a central opening in alignmentwith the openings 15 provided in each of the horizontally extendingbottle separators Ill.

In assembling the knockdown display stand 10, the open top cartons 16are arranged in the rectangular plan shown in Fig. 1 and the lower endsof the poles 12 are positioned in. the'unfilled compartments l8constituting the extreme corners of the rectangular plan. A lightweight,thin, pliant, sheet material separator 11 is slidably mounted on theupper ends of the poles 12 and moved downwardly into engagement with theopen-top cartons 16, vertical dividers 17 and the upper ends of thebottles contained in the other compartments in the cartons. A layer ofbottles of beverages or food products is thenattractively placed on; topof the lowermost separator 11 in any convenient arrangement such as byprice, flavors, etc. The vertical adjustable means herein referred to asthe rubber bands 14 are then positioned on each of the poles 12 atsubstantially the same height of the lowermost layer of bottles. Asecond pliant loaddistributing separator 11 is then slidably mounted onthe poles 12 and moved downwardly into engagement with the rubber bands14. This process is repeated until the desired number of layers ofbottles and separators are provided.

It is readily seen that the resilient adjustable means 14 can be quicklyand easily adjusted on the poles 12 to vary the spacing between theseparators 11 to accommodate varying size botttles.

I Fig. 4 discloses another embodiment of a pole or vertical supportingmeans which is adapted to be used with the present invention. Anelongated angle member 21 may be used in place of the elongatedcylindrical poles 12 for supporting the vertically spaced horizontallyextending bottle separators 11. In using the elongated angle members 21,the compartments 18 constituting the extreme corners of the rectangularplan are not unfilled but the bottles are retained therein. The lowerends of the angle members 21 are then inserted into the corners of thecompartments 18 between mating surfaces of the vertical dividers and thewalls of the bottles contained in the compartments. This type ofvertical support eliminates the need'of the filler block 1? which may beused with the cylindrical poles 12.

It can thus be seen that a knockdown display stand for a large number ofbottles is provided which can be quick- 1y assembled or knocked down andset up in any location of the store. There is a minimum number of partsrequired which are relatively inexpensive in distinction to the foldingracks or other gondolas presently used for displaying bottles of variousbeverages and food products. The load of an upper layer of bottles isequally distributed by a pliant'separator to the tops of a lower layerof bottles thus providing a stable stack and eliminating the fear of anybottles falling over. At the same time this type of display allows thepurchaser to readily remove any desired number of bottles or containers.Moreover, when the display stand is reloaded, each separator can bemoved upwardly for ease of placing a layer of bottles on the lowerseparator.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. For example, it iscontemplated that the verti- 'cal adjustable means for supporting thebottle separators may be carried by each of the separators 11 instead ofby the vertical supports. 'In addition, advertising signs or otherdecorative means may be carried by the means 13 interconnecting theupper ends of the rear poles to provide a readily attractable displaystand for immediately attracting the customers attention. It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims,

2,935,205 4 M F a a a. the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

I claim:

1. A knockdown, stationary display stand for a large number of bottlesof beverages and food products, comprising in combination: a pluralityof open-top cartons of bottled goods, said cartons, being arranged inadjacent relation and rectangular plan upon a base; each of said cartonsbeing provided with vertical dividers providing compartments for saidbottled goods; compartments constituting extreme corners of saidrectangular plan being unfilled; a pair of vertical poles positioned inthe rear unfilled compartments and a pair of vertical poles positionedin the front unfilled compartments, said rear poles being of greaterheight than the front poles; a plurality of horizontally extending,lightweight, thin, pliant sheet material, load-distributing separatorscarried by said poles in vertically spaced relation, each of saidseparators be- 5 ing provided with openings adapted to slidably receivesaid poles; vertically adjustable means carried by each of said polesbeneath each of said separators to support said separators in horizontalplanes spaced a distancesubstantially equal to the height of bottlesplaced thereon when the stand is not loaded with bottles; and meansinterconnecting the upper ends of said rear pair of poles.

2. The bottle display as stated in claim 1 wherein said verticallyadjustable means is a rubber band.

3. A knockdown, stationary display stand for a large number of bottles,comprising in combination: forward and rearward horizontally spaced,vertical poles slidably carrying a plurality of horizontally extending,vertically spaced, lightweight, thin, pliant, sheet material,load-distributing separators for layers of bottles; said rearward polebeing of greater height than said forward pole .and having a sheet ofmaterial secured on its upper end bearing advertising indicia; each ofsaid bottle separators hav ing forward and rearward openings forslidably receiving said forward and rearward poles; means for supportingsaid poles in a substantially vertical position, means rigidlysupporting the lowermost bottle separator; and vertically adjustableresilient means for supporting the remaining bottle separators inhorizontal planes spaced a distance substantially equal to the height ofthe bottles to be displayed, when the stand is not loaded with bottles,whereby when the stand is loaded with bottles the load of an upper layerof bottles is equally distributed by a pliant separator to the tops of alower layer of bottles to pro videa stable stack of bottles.

4. A knockdown, stationary bottle display stand for a large number ofbottles, comprising in combination: horizontally spaced, vertical polesslidably carrying a plurality of horizontally extending, verticallyspaced, lightweight, thin, pliant, sheet material, load-distributingseparators for layers of bottles; each of said bottle separators havingopenings for slidably receiving said poles; means for supporting saidpoles in a substantially vertical position, means for supporting thelowermost bottle separator; and vertically adjustable resilient meansfor supporting the remaining bottle separators in horizontal planesspaced at distance substantially equal to the height of the bottles tobe displayed when the stand is not loaded with bottles, whereby when thestand is loaded with hottles the load of an upper layer of bottlesisequally distributed by a pliant separator to the tops of a lower layerof bottles to provide a stable stack of bottles.

5. The bottle display as stated in claim 4 wherein said resilient meansis a rubber band carried on each of said poles beneath each of saidbottle separators.

6. The bottle display as stated in claim 4 wherein said supporting meansincludes a plurality of open-top cartons of bottled goods, said cartonsbeing arranged in adjacent relation upon a base, each of said cartonsbeing provided with vertical dividers providing compartments for saidbottled goods, certain of said compartments in said cartons beingunfilled and receiving the lower ends of said poles.

7. A knockdown, stationary display stand for a large number of bottles,comprising in combination: a plurality of horizontally spaced, verticalpoles having a plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced,lightweight, thin, pliant, sheet material, load-distributing bottleseparators slidably mounted thereon; means for supporting said poles ina substantially vertical position; and vertically adjustable means forsupporting said bottle separators in horizontal planes spaced a distancesubstantially equal to the height of the bottles to be displayed whenthe stand is not loaded with bottles, whereby when the stand is loadedwith bottles the load of an upper layer of bottles is equallydistributed by a pliant separator to the tops of a lower layer ofbottles to provide a stable stack of bottles.

8. A knockdown, stationary display stand for a large number of bottlesof beverages and food products, comprising, in combination: a pluralityof open-top cartons of bottled goods, said cartons being arranged inadjacent relation and rectangular plan upon a base; each of said cartonsbeing provided with vertical dividers providing compartments for saidbottled goods; compartments constituting extreme corners of saidrectangular plan being occupied with bottled goods; a pair of verticalpoles positioned in the rear occupied compartments between the verticaldividers and the bottled goods and a pair of vertical poles positionedin the front occupied compartments between the vertical dividers and thebottled goods, said rear poles being of greater height than the frontpoles; a plurality of horizontally extending, lightweight, thin, pliantsheet material, load-distributing separators carried by said poles invertically spaced relation, each of said separators being provided withopenings adapted to slidably receive said poles; vertically adjustablemeans carried by each of said poles beneath each of said separators tosupport said separators in horizontal planes spaced a distancesubstantially equal to the height of bottles placed thereon when thestand is not loaded with bottles; and means interconnecting the upperends of said rear pair of poles.

9. The bottle display stand as stated in claim 8 wherein said verticalpoles are angular in section.

Reterenees Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS1,571,352 Weston Feb. 2, 1926 1,790,997 Palmer Feb. 3, 1931 2,120,610Howard June 14, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 548,304 Germany April 12, 1932

